A Southern gentleman at heart, Donnell received his formal education in Virginia. Upon graduating from the College of William & Mary, he moved to Washington, DC and began his career in Financial Services. From retail banking branch management to investment banking to insurance services, he mastered the skills necessary to advise his clients on the best ways to manage their financial portfolio.
He obtained his real estate license in 2001. Drawing from his financial background and personal experience, Donnell is able to advise his clients on the best options for locating, financing and renovating their properties for personal use or for investment purposes.
He is happy to share his contacts with his clients and sphere of influence so that they have the same access to his network of experts.
Donnell specializes in residential real estate in DC and Maryland. He currently resides in the Brookland neighborhood with his partner and their two dogs.
David Getson grew up in northern Virginia, near to his eventual home in Washington, DC’s Logan neighborhood. In 2002, he began as a buyer’s agent at a Coldwell Banker office in Washington, DC, distinguishing himself with the personal attention with which he showed his clients. In 2005, after a year of conversations and transactions where the represented clients on different sides of the table, he partnered with a local agent at a competing firm, Mandy Mills, and joined the brand new boutique agency, Hounshell Real Estate.
In 2006, they added their first assistant and in 2007, officially became the Mandy & David Team, in response to the demands of the marketplace. With their business continuing to grow, they moved three blocks to the downtown Coldwell Banker office in 2011, which offered them both more resources and the strength of the firm’s international name recognition.
In 2011, they were the #1 Coldwell Banker agents in DC and were included in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the Top 250 Real Estate Teams in the Country, with just over $51 Million in sales. In 2012, they topped $100 Million in sales, placing them in the Top 10 of Coldwell Banker nationwide and at #90 in the country on the Wall Street Journal list.
Jenn Smira combines relentlessness, diplomacy, negotiating skills, and a can-do attitude that sets her apart from the pack. She is every client’s advocate, working until each has found the best home or sold for the right price. Her many repeat clients are a testimony to her dedication and results, as is her ranking among the top 10 agents in the city.
Recognized for her leadership in the field, she was selected in 2014 for the DC Association of Realtors’ Board of Directors. She currently serves on the organization’s Board of Directors and the Public Policy Committee.
After years on Capitol Hill and then Shepherd Park, Jenn and her family now live in Chevy Chase. Jenn plays basketball, runs half marathons, and unleashes her creative side through her cooking.
Taylor is the top choice for clients who want high-quality representation. An advisor to his clients, he fully understands his client’s needs and works diligently to attain the best result while smoothing the sales process. Whether it’s finding a home off-market, selling a unique property, or consulting with a buyer new to the DC area, Taylor’s strength lies in making effective decisions based on clients’ goals.
Known for expertly negotiating a competitive offer and thinking outside the box, Taylor has built a solid reputation amongst buyers and sellers working on one of their most important life decisions. With a degree in Business and Communications from Northeastern University and his work experience at Department of Defense, Hilton Hotels, and numerous small corporations, Taylor’s background provides him with the ability to create confidence and ease in his approach to all real estate transactions.
Taylor attributes his love for real estate to growing up in the architecturally stunning city of Newport, Rhode Island. His other passions include travel, photography, and hunting for D.C.’s best coffee. He resides in the H-Street neighborhood and can often be found biking around the city or walking his mutt, Ella.
The Denny & Leyla Team’s refreshing approach to buying and selling Metro DC real estate blends unwavering honesty with undeniable results, and their success speaks for itself. The revered team continues to receive most of their business as referrals from highly satisfied clients. Whether this is your first home or your fiftieth, you won’t go wrong with the Denny & Leyla Team by your side.
A self-proclaimed military brat, Christopher moved six times before he was eight years old, which sparked his passion for real estate at a very young age.
After a career as a professional ballet dancer was cut short by injury, Christopher worked his way through college in Baltimore and enjoyed a tenured career as a marketing executive before he rediscovered his childhood passion and pursued real estate professionally, which Christopher proclaims as “the most fulfilling career decision I’ve ever made.”
Bringing more than 15 years of professional experience to each real estate transaction, Christopher’s proven ability to deliver specialized services to a wide variety of clientele demonstrates his “Client-Centered” approach to business, which continues to serve as his philosophy today.
Christopher helps Buyers and Sellers successfully achieve their real estate goals with remarkable business acumen and astute negotiation skills. His performance helping clients navigate the intricacies of the DC metro area’s complex real estate market has earned him several Top Producer awards and more than $60 million in closed transaction volume since 2012.
In 2015, after spending several years working side-by-side building successful careers as individual real estate agents, Christopher Bulka & John Peters merged their businesses and created Bulka/Peters Residential. The dynamic partnership between these two highly respected Realtors allows them to combine their superior customer service, innovative marketing techniques, skilled negotiation strategies and professional transaction management to enhance their clients’ home buying and selling experiences.
When he’s not working, Christopher enjoys dining out, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors as much as possible. He is currently the Treasurer of the Crispus Attucks Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization, which owns and operates Crispus Attucks Park in Washington, DC’s Bloomingdale neighborhood, where Christopher and his partner recently completed a top-to-bottom renovation of their circa 1900 Victorian home.
Dyle grew up in Juneau, Alaska and graduated from the University of Alaska, Anchorage with a BA in Political Science. In 2008, Dyle earned a prestigious internship on the Hill and immediately fell in love with the city and its rich history and culture. Several years later, Dyle moved off the Hill and into the private sector; however, he ultimately decided to make a career change and follow his passion – real estate.
Dyle joined The Mandy & David Team in the Spring of 2014 as a Licensed Contract Coordinator. In this role, Dyle managed the “contract to close” process for clients, helping buyers and sellers navigate the inspections, contingencies, and logistics they encounter on the path to settlement. Dyle has since moved on to become a full-time agent. Bringing with him a deep understanding of the intricacies of the transaction process and familiarity with the DC market, Dyle helps his clients to achieve their dreams and start their next chapters.
In his spare time, you can find Dyle taking a fitness class at Vida, [solidcore] or Flywheel; enjoying brunch along 14th St.; catching a show at 9:30 Club; or shopping at one of the city’s many farmers markets. Always with his hand on the pulse, Dyle enjoys challenging himself and trying everything at least once.
A Washington resident for over 20 years and a real estate agent for over a decade, John has built his business on referrals and returning clients who trust him for his market expertise, attention to detail, and outstanding negotiation skills. For John, going the extra mile for his clients is the part of the sales process he enjoys most.
John credits his parents for his dedication to hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. Thanks to his family’s construction and real estate investment businesses, he was raised with the notion that hard work, smart business decisions, and loving your job are the ingredients for success.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration from Arizona State University. His years of working in Corporate Finance and Project Management prepared him to seamlessly handle complex transactions in real estate.
John’s interests include renovation projects, design, and architecture. He takes inspiration from his travels through Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, England, France, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Czech Republic, and Hungary. As an animal lover, John is a supporter of The Humane Society.
Evan Johnson has been a proven top producing real estate agent in the Washington, DC, metro area since 1999. His dedication to helping home buyers and sellers meet their real estate goals is best shown through the glowing reviews past clients have happily written about their experience with him. Evan thoroughly loves real estate contract negotiations and positioning homes for sale through innovative marketing.
Now at Compass, Evan is part of the Evan + Mark Team, a strong force in the DC Real Estate market with sales of over $225 million and 500+ homes sold.
Born in Miami, Florida, Mark relocated to the DC metro region at the age of 8. He was raised by a hard-working waitress and a officer in the Army’s Paratroopers. His father served in WWII. Mark attended the University of Mary Washington and later became an expert in the hospitality industry. Transforming venues with declining sales became a passion. With that passion, Mark decided to help individuals achieve financial independence through home ownership, so in 2002, under the Coldwell Banker brand, Mark became a Realtor. Mark Rutstein’s various television appearances, as well as awards, support his love and success in the industry. Now, following the technology advanced brokerage, he is under the Compass name!
Mark is an active member of the community, volunteering his time with multiple community organizations and events. His involvement in the community brings knowledge of the local businesses, nightlife, museums, and transportation that is important while buying or selling a home.
Alex Dykes is a mortgage loan officer who brings a wealth of business knowledge to lending in the DMV. He is skilled in listening closely and understanding each client’s needs, and also excels at managing finances. Passionate about first-time home buyers and people buying under difficult circumstances, including renovation and 100% financing loans, Alex goes that extra mile to support his clients, always thinking about their future success.
He holds a B.S. in Economics from George Mason University and enjoys hiking, cooking, and traveling with his husband Mark. Alex is excited to help you start the path to your dream home with a home mortgage, refinance, jumbo, or renovation loan in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, or North Carolina.